Khartoum Today interviewed the UNAMID Sector South Head of Office Mr. Berhanemeskel Nega on the side line of Juba peace talks between The Sudanese Transitional Government and Revolutionary front he talked about a number of issues praising the Mission’s Head of Office, Sector South.
Interview by: Mustafa Hussein Hassan
Question: Mr. Nega, you are in Juba for many months to help Sudanese parties in reaching the juba peace agreement, tell us about your impression, the role of your organization during this time?
Answer: thank you, I am very happy to be a part of this historic process in Juba, we follow up since beginning of the negotiation as UNAMID, basically my impression as you asked, this was process which began with new political change in Sudan, the opportunities presented by this, the constitutional document which provided peace as the top priority of the government.
The government of the South Sudan take the initiative to mediate, I think the condition was very great for the negotiations to Sudan and South Sudanese government, for the last ten months the discussion continued, we have challenges of COVID 19 but didn’t stopped, during COVID it run through videoconferences, now we reached the agreement at the 31 August.
What I see when the parties interact during the meetings is really conversation among brothers who want to solve their problems through dialogue, the mediation understanding the parties very well, this was really main to the contributing factors of success as long as UNAMID concerns.
Back in October the security council mandate the mission to support the mediation in South Sudan, that was technical advice, some facilitation in march were 120 civil society organization in member from Darfur, we participated their facilitation in Juba, again I want to really emphasize again the credit goes to the transitional government and to the movement, secondly to the south Sudanese mediation.
Question: what is the challenge that may face the implementation of this agreement?
Answer: Negotiating to achieve peace agreement isn’t easy, it’s very difficult especially in complex situation like Sudan, you have different regional issues, national issues, different protocols, really quite complex, this how south Sudanese mediation successfully a bled to steer at process and parties were very kicked to reach an agreement.
The implementation will be more challenging, there have been a lot of agreement before, there were some disappointment for agreement, weren’t implemented was lack of political will, now the greatest thing that we have the political will, the government, the armed movement and non-armed movements want to implement, I think it will be much more easier this time to implement, everybody want peace, at the same time this agreement is for whole Sudan not one region as Darfur or two areas, the issues are so complex and all kind of economic issues, political issues, IDPs, refugees, transitional justice, accountability issues, elections and all issues that concern people of Sudan are included in this agreement.
So implementing all this provision required a bit of time including security arrangement as well as resources a lot of Sudanese government, parties and people take responsibility for that, I believe the international community will support this process, initially when this process started the people weren’t sure real if there will be progress in Juba, but now everybody realize that there is progress.
Am sure the international community will support Sudan but the main thing is the confidence, the implementing are will in Sudan, the new political changes, the first thing we have to know to take the agreement to the people if in Darfur or to Whole of Sudan for them to understand what is in agreement for them, am sure the people of Sudan will support the agreement and support of people is very important for implementation is much hopeful and brighter than the previous agreement that we had.
Question: many African people and politicians call for African solutions to African problems, do you think the Juba peace agreement came under this theme?
Answer: Yes absolutely, there is clear demonstration, the role of African countries as region or as neighbors to solve problems conflict in region or in the neighborhood, so if see even the political change in Sudan itself the role of African union and neighboring countries played in bringing all the parties together and come with the transitional arrangement was critical anyway.
Now South Sudan stepping in and playing the vital role shows, our problems always are identical, when we sit down and take each other more there is clear understanding the needs and aspiration of the people, I think it’s clear demonstration with African solution for African problems, at the same time while African and region played this role we need the support of the international community as a whole.
Question: until now there is still armed struggle movement out of the agreement like SPLM/N- Al Hilu and SLA- Abdul Wahid Nur, what can you do to bring them to the negotiation table?
Answer: those two Groups are very important and hopefully they will join in the process, there have been a lot of efforts to have everybody on board specially group of Al Hilu was part of process negotiating in Juba, in fact there were discussing the principles of the declaration they were part of process hopefully they were come back that discussion and join the agreements.
They have a lot of calls from the UN secretary general, AU, IGAD, TROIKA, EU, to join the peace process, hope the response.
Question: what is the future of UNAMID in Sudan after the agreement between Sudanese parties in Juba?
Answer: UNAMID current mandate until 31 December and UNAMID is now operating in Darfur who are really very small mission in this point, we understand there are concern about what gaps will be created when UNAMID leaves, specially the protection of civilians, while the mandate of the mission in December there will be special joint report by the secretary General of the United Nations and the chairman of AU commission in the end of October assessing the situation and recommending the mission to the Security Council.
Based on that we will see what the security council will decide in consultation government of Sudan, at the same time the United Nations will continue to support Sudan during this transition, there is already wide mission established by the security council back in June which called UNITAMS, that mission has mandate in various areas including the peace implementation process, the mission hasn’t started operation but hopefully it will start by the beginning of the next year and a company also Sudan implementation of peace process what will be in Sudan to support the people and government of Sudan in their effort to bring peace.
Question: The implementation of the agreement connecting with some developmental projects in the areas that are affected by war, how can the International organizations can help in this regard?
Answer: I think that is very good question there will be a lot of resources required for the implementation of the peace agreement projects, there will be a lot of mechanisms, DDR programs, the requirement of the resources is very much recognized so the hope is the Sudanese government and the parties take the lead on the implementation, there will be support from the international community in providing the terms of additional resources.
Am sure this will be the next step now which people will be focusing on whether of donor’s conference or different modalities or so on, I think that what will happen, the same time if you see you have different programs, different projects throughout Sudan.
Question: at last do you have any message you would like to send to the people of Sudan or the international community?
Answer : the message to the Sudanese people to congratulate them for the achievement, there is nothing more important than peace, peace is coming, for peace to be sustained it requires the effort of everybody, working together specially the Sudanese people, the political parties, armed Movement non-armed movement.
My message is to bring the people of Sudan to Unite and work together to be an easy process, continue the effort to ensure Sudan achieves what is deserve, peaceful, progress, democratic, united country for the future of Sudan.
The message to partners is to continue helping support the people of Sudan to fulfill aspiration specially the implementation of peace agreement which signed of course.
Much important thing is this Sudanese process, a national owned process should be driven by Sudanese, owned by Sudanese themselves, but the International community can come to support this effort
